Elevator.



R. B. RENNER.

ELEVATOR.

APPLIUATION FILED 1320.20, 1911.

Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

` 4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

R. B. RBNNEB..

ELEVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 20. 191:1.

Patented Fel-1.10, 1914.

4 SHEETS-MEET z.

www0/awo R, B. RENNER.

ELEVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED DB0. 2o, 1911.

Lgg Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

4 SHEBTS-SHBET 3.

tR. B. RENNER.

)LET-TOE..

APPLIUATIQN FILED 1320.20, 1911.

Patented Feb. lo, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

l l l lI s l" l y side elevation tion of'a conveyer system embodyingUNITED sratngrarnnr OFFICE.

ROLAND B. RENNER, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 THE JEFFREY MANUFAC-TUBING COMPANY,l .A CORPORATION OF OHIO. i

ELEVATOR.

i-,osaeea Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

. .v l Application led December 20, 1911. i Serial No. 666,950.

. To all whom t may concer/i Be it known that I, ROLAND B, RENxE-R, acitizen of the United States, residing at `Columbus, in the county ofFranklin and provide an improved general construction and arrangement ofdevices for loading and unloading` the elevator trays at one door oranother.

A further object is the provision of' an improved .construction for thetrays and tray carrying parts.

still further object is the provision of improved means for effectingthe loading and unloading ofthe trays at various points.

In the accompanying drawings'which form a part of this application Ihave shown a complete conveyer system embodying my improvements. It willbe understood, however, that so far as certain features of my inventionarelconcerned various changes may be made in the arrangement of theparts.

Of the drawings. Figure 1 is a side elevamv nnprovements in place in awarehouse. Fig. 2

i conveyer 13.

Refeirrino' to the drawings, A, B, and C 'represent the ioors of abuilding, it being understood that there may be any desired number ofoors. Through suitable vertically aiined openings in the floors thereextends'a conveyer or elevator which comprises the two endless chains l,1 and the trays 2, 2 carried by the chains. Upon the top of the buildingthere is mounted a hori- Zontal'shyaft 3 provided with sprocket wheels4, 4 over which pass the two chains 1, 1. A. motor 5 is connected withthe shaft 3 by means of suitable gearing such as that indicated in thedrawings and serves'todrivethe sprocket wheels 4, 4, and through themthe elevator chains and trays. At the bottom of the building the chains1, 1 pass ovel` sprocket wheels 6, 6 which are mounted on a horizontalshaft 7. This shaft 7 together with the sprocket wheels carried by it ispreferably movable in order that proper adjustment may be made inaccordance with the variations in the lengths of the chains' on accountof wear or temperature. Vertical guides 8, 8 are provide-d 'for thechains These will be fully described hereinafter.

In the dra-wings I have shown a sprocket wheel 9 mounted on the shaft 7and connected by means of a chain .10 .with a sprocket wheel 11 on theshaft 12 of the belt In this way power may be ysupplied for driving thebelt conveyer.

is an end view of the conveyer system shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is anenlarged fragmentary showing the loading and unloading devices at one ofthe fioors. Fig. 4 is a cross sectional plan view taken along the line 44 of Fig. Fig. 5 is a cross sec tional plan view taken along the line5-5 of Fig. 3. Fig. G is a sidc elevation of one of the trays and the.chains to which it is attached. l*`ig.,7 is a sectional side elevationof one of the unloading devices taken along the line a', of Fig. (i, theparts being arranged in position to permit a tray to pass without beingdumped. Fig. 8 is a. vien' similar to Fig. 7 but showing the. parts inpositio-n to cause dumping. tray in dumped pgsition. Fig. 10 shows atray restored to its original position.

veyer 13.

vThis belt conveyer may be used for carrytransferred by the elevatingmechanism. But this belt conveyer constitutes no part of my presentinvention and extended description of it is unnecessary.

At the ascending side of theconveyer. devices K. K are providedpreferably at cach of the floors for effecting the loading or nnloadingof the trays. A loading device L is preferably also provided in thebasement below the lower floor A. in position to receive articlesdischarged from the belt con- At the descending side of the conveyerunloading devices M, M and N, N are provided. These have been shown onlyat the iioors A and B, but it will be understood ing articles to be`that similar' devices can be provided for the other fioors.

It will be understood that the arrangement is suchthat at the ascendingFig. 9 shows a have been heretofore referred to.

. Aby means of the tie rod 15.

clesfmay be removed from thc trays at any fioo'ifprovided with unloadingdevices.

Each of the chains 1 comprises series of links 1a, 1, and 1", 1b whichare pivotally connected together by pins 1C upon which are mountedrollers 1d. These rollers engage Witliand are guided. by the guides 8which Flach of these guides 8 is preferably made up of two channel/bars8a, 8a. At intervals along the chains are connected the trays 2 whichhave been before briefly referred to. lilach tray has at each end avertical suspension link 14 which has a bearing at its upper end on anextended part of one of the pins 1C. The links 14 areI fastened togetherat their ends At the ends of the tie rod 15 are rotatably mountedrollers 16 which run between and aie guided by the channel bars 8a, 8a.Rotatably mounted in suitable bearings intermediate the ends of thelinks 14 is a transverse horizontal shaft 17; Rigidly mounted upon thisshaft 17 -at regular intervals are carrierarms 18, 18.

At one end of the tie rod 15 and mounted y thereon by a bearingintermediate its ends is a horizontal operating bar 19. This bar isprovided at its ends with rotatable rollers 20, v

and 21. The bar 19 is provided with an upward projecting arm 22 to theupper end of which is pivotally connected a link 23. The other end ofthis link 23 is pivotally connected at 24 with one of the carrier arms18. The arm 22 and the link 23 together form a toggle connection betweenthe shaft 15 and the carrier part of the tray and serve to normally holdthe tray in horizontal operative position. In order that the tray maynot be accidently jarred out of this horizontal position, a weight 25 isprovided on the lever 19. The position of this weight 25 may be adjustedand it may be held in place by a set screw 26. j For loading the trayswhen on the ascending side of the conveyer, two ysets of fingers 27, 27and 28, 28 are provided. The fingers 27, 27 are mounted on a shaft 29which is controlled by 'a hand lever 30. This lever may be locked eitherin the position shown by full lines in Fig. 3 or in the position shownby dotted lines. The fingers 28,28

are mounted on the shaft 31 which is controlled by the hand lever '32.This hand lever may. be locked, either in the position shown by fulllines or in `the position'shown by dotted lines. fingers 28 arepreferably in substantial aline ment with the floor so that abarrel orother object can be moved along tlieifloor-and into the pocket ordepression fornied by the two. sets of fingers As one of the trays 2'moves`- upward its arms 18 pass'between the fingers 27, 27 and 28,28and lift from themanyrobject which they support. The fingers 27 27 and28, 28 are' moved into the inoperative The upper ends of the' of therollers 21 on the levers 19 there is pivoted an upstanding cam arm 33which is controlled by the handle 34, and which can be locked either inthe position shown in Fig. 7 or in the position shown in Figs. 8 and 9.7When the cam lever 33 is in the position shown in Fig. 7 a loaded traywill -pass smoothly upward without being acted upon.

`When theI cam lever is moved into the position shown in Figs. 8 and 9vit coperates with a stationary cam 35 to .form a parallel sided groove36 through which the roller 21 of the-tray is forcedto Apass as the traymoves upward'. The groove 36 is inclined at its lower end and thisinclination is sufficient to cause the lever 19, togetherl with the armVto more sufficiently to break the toggle and to bring the carrier armsot the tray into the sharply inclined position shown in Fig. 9.v Theupper partof the4 groove is vertical and the carrier arms are,therefore, held rigidly in their inclined positionuntil their load canbe discharged by cam 38 forces the roller 20 downward and outward withrespect to the other parts of the tray, and as a result the lever 19 andthe carrier arms 18 are returned to horizontal positions. i A Y Twoindependent sets of devices are provided at each unloading Hoor forremoving articles from the trays on the descending side of the eonveyer.indicated by M is especially adapted for -removing' boxes or bags whichwill not readily roll. The'set of devices "indicated atN are especiallyadapted for barrels' or cylindrical objects which will roll on arelatively slight incline. The devices at M comprise two sets of fingers39, 39 and 40, 40 mounted reing levers '4 3 and 44am-connected to theThe set of devices' llF *.spectively on the shafts 41, and 42. Operatishafts/41 .and 42 and' these levers can be- `V'locked either-veto holdthe fingers in the positions indicated by full lines in Fig. 3 or in thepositionsindicated by .dotted lines.

When-the fingrrs'are in the full'line posi-A tions they will projectbetween the carrier arms of -a descending tray and engage with may ' thefingers lloaded either at L y A, B or C, and can be unloaded at A, BorC' for locking the tray an object carried thereon to push it laterallyed' from the tray and onto the door or a suitable table or truck. Whenthe ingers are inthe dotted, line ositions a loaded tray freely pass witout its load being acted upon. The unloading de-vices at N comprise thetwo sets of fingers 46, 46 and f47, 47 mounted respectively on theshafts 48 and 49. The shafts 48 and 49 are controlled by the levers 50and 51 which can be locked, either 'to hold the fingers in the positionsshown by dotted lines in Fig. 3 or in the positions shown by full lines..When the fingers are in the dotted` line positions they will. enga-ge abarrel or cylindrical object on a tray and support it until it rollsvdown the inclined ngers 47, 47 onto the oor. When are in the full linepositions they will'permit a loaded tray to pass withou its load beingacted upon. v

From the foregoing description it apparent that I have by my inventionprovided an arrangement such that trays can be or at any of the floorson the ascending side, or at B or A on the descending side.

What I claim is:

l. In a vertically movable tray conveyor, the combination of a traymounted for movementabout -a horizontal axis, toggle links in carryingposition, stationary means for upsetting the toggle and positivelymoving the tray into an inclined dumping position as the tray movesupward, and stationary means for positively returning the tray to normalhorizontal position as the tray continues to move upward. 2. In avertically moving tray conveyer, the combination of a tray mounted formovetionary cam for engaging one end of the bar to tilt the tray intoAinclined dumping position as it moves upward, and a second cam adaptedto engage the other end of the bar to return the tray into its normalhorizontal position as the tray continues to move upward.

In a vertically movable tray elevator, the combination of a carrier, atray mounted on the carrier for movement about a horizontal axis, atoggle link for locking the tray'in carrying position, a bar mounted onthe carrier for movement about an axis separate rombut parallel, to theaxis'ot the tray, a connection between the bar and the tray, astationary cam adapted .to engage the bar to move it and thereby causethe upsetting ofthe toggle and movement of the tray into inclineddumping position as the tray moves upward, and a second stationary 'camadapted to be engaged by the other end of the barto cause the tray to bereturned to its normal horizontal position.

will be ment about a horizontal axis, a normally. movement of thehorizontal bar connected to the tray, a sta-` 4. In a vertically-movabletray elevator,

the combination of a carrier, a tray mounted on the carrier for movementabout a hori. zontal axis, anormally horizontal bar mounted onthecarrier formovement about a horizontal axis separate from the axis ofthe tray, a connection between the arm and the trayv for maintaining thearm and the tray substantially parallel, a stationary cam for engagingone end' of the arm to cause the movement of the tray into an inclineddumping position as it moves upward, and a second stationary cam adaptedto engage the other end of the bar to cause the tray to be returned intoits normal horizontal position vas it continues to move upward.

5. In a vertically movable tray conveyor', the combination of 'acarrier, a tray mounted on the carrier for movement about a horizontalaxis, a horizontal bar pivotally mounted on the carrier and connectedwith the tray, a normally stationary cam for engaging one end of the barto cause movement of the tray into an inclined dumping position as itmoves upward, a second stationary cam for engaging the other end of thebar to cause the-tray to be returned to v its normal horizontal positionas it continues4 to move upward, and a manually controllable means formoving the first said cam into or out of the path of the said bar.

6. In a vertically movable tray conveyor, the'combination of a carrier,a tray mounted on the carrier for movement about a horizontal axis, abar pivotally mounted on the' carrier and connected with the tray, a camprovided with an inclined groove adjacent the path of one end of thesaid arm, a projection on the arm adapted to enter the said groove andengage the walls thereof tocause said bar andthe said tray into inclinedpositions, and means for returning the bar and the tray to normalvhorizontal positions after disengagement of the projection from thewalls of the groove. 7 In a vertically movable tray conveyor,

the combination of a carrieiga tray mounted on the carrier and capableof movement abo-ut a horizontal axis, an arm pivotally mounted on thecarrier and connected with the tray, a cam having a groove which isinclined at its lower end and vertical at its upper end, a projection onthe said bar adapted to enter the groove and-to be guided betweenthe-walls thereof, the position ot the groove being such that the bar ismoved while in engagement with the inclined part.

of the groove to bring the tray into inclined dumping position, andwhile in engagement with the vertical part of the groove is heldstationary, and means for returning the bar and the. tray to normalhorizontal positions.

8. In a vertically movabletray elevator, the combination of a carrier, atray mounted on the carrier and capable of movement rae isa

about a horizontal axis, va bar pivotallyl zontal positionsjand meansfor moving one of the walls of the cam out. of position to engage t-hesaid projection on the bar.

9. Ina verticallyy movable tray elevator, the combination d'fjatoarrier,atray mounted on the carrier and? capgable of movement about ahorizontal axis/,ja bar mounted on the carrier and connected With thetray,l a A. cam adjacent the path ot the end of the bar and providedwith a' groove, the lower end of' which is inclined and the upper end ofrWhich is vertical, a project-ion on the end of be guided by the Wallsthereof, the arrangement being such that the projection is guided by theinclined part of the groove to cause movement vof the tray into inclineddumping position and during engagement with the vertical part, of thegroove Walls holds the tray in the said inclined dumping position, meansfor returning the tray to its normal horizontal positiom and means formoving one Wall of the groove to permit the unobstructed passage of thesaid projection on the bar.

In testimony whereofl affix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.1

W. J. BRUNnn, Dummy T. FISHER.

